May 22, 2012 - Today
the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the results of its 2011
Survey program which highlights the states, cities, and territories
that
benefitted from overseas travelers to the United States. In 2011
overseas
arrivals to the United States posted a six percent increase compared to
2010.
This marked a continuation of the 2010 dramatic reversal of the
visitation
decline experienced in 2009. Many states and cities posted significant
increases in 2011 and several experienced losses. The 2011 overseas
visitation
estimates to U.S. destinations (states, cities and regions) and origin
region/country market profiles provide information on contributing
factors and
traveler characteristics behind market changes. Note: There is evidence
that
overseas travelers visited all U.S. states/territories, however sample
sizes
(i.e. # of respondents) determine which destination data can be
publicly
released; see the OTTI statistical data release policy at: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/2007_statistical_policy.html
Destinations:
New York State was the most visited state by overseas
travelers in 2011 for the tenth consecutive year. Visitation to New
York
increased 10 percent, increasing its market share to 34 percent.
California
moved into second position, with a nine percent increase in visitation.
Florida
slipped to third position, its visitation having declined by two
percent.
Nevada, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Texas, Illinois, Guam and New Jersey
rounded out
the top 10 states in visitation estimates. Of the 21 states/territories
for
which estimates are available, double-digit increases were experienced
by six
states. Texas and Colorado posted 25 and 30 percent increases,
respectively, in
their visitation estimates, the highest growth among all states.
The cities most visited by overseas
travelers in 2011 were
New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Orlando,
Washington, DC, Honolulu, Boston and Chicago. Of the 21 city visitation
estimates issued, all but five posted increases. Seven states posted
double-digit increases in 2011 compared to 13 cities that registered
double-digit increases in 2010. The cities that experienced the largest
visitation increases were Dallas, Houston, San Jose and Las Vegas, all
over 15
percent.
To view the top states and cities visited by overseas
travelers, go to: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2011_States_and_Cities.pdf
Changes in a destination's visitation estimate vary from
year-to-year due to
changes in origin market ‘demand side factors,' shifts in traveler
characteristics and normal statistical error. For the 2011 top three:
- Overseas
visitation to New York State was up 10 percent in 2011. Travel to the
state, from the following regions, was as follows: Europe (5.0
million), up eight percent; Asia (1.5 million), up 30 percent; South
America (1.5 million), up 22 percent, the Middle East (434,000), up two
percent, and Africa (149,000), up four percent. However, travel from
Oceania (460,000) was down 13 percent. New York City hosted 98 percent
of the travelers to the state.
- California state
visitation was up nine percent. Travel from Europe (2.6 million), up 12
percent; Asia (2.0 million), up four percent; and Oceania (676,000), up
14 percent. Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Anaheim accounted
for 60 percent, 47 percent, 13 percent and six percent, respectively,
of visitation to the state (multiple cities visited).
- Florida state
visitation was down two percent. Travel from Europe (2.7 million), down
three percent; South America (1.8 million), up two percent; and Asia
(319,000), up 11 percent. Visits from the Caribbean Islands to Florida
(461,000), were down seven percent. Miami and Orlando accounted for 52
percent and 49 percent of Florida travelers, respectively. Arrivals to
Miami were down five percent whereas arrivals to Orlando were up three
percent.
Traveler Characteristics:
Changes in key traveler characteristics may also influence visitation,
such as,
business versus leisure travel, the number of destinations visited,
and/or the
traveler's use of transportation within the country. Some of the key
shifts in
overseas traveler characteristics that occurred in 2011 compared to
2010, and
over the past several years, that can impact the destinations visited
include:
- Leisure
travel, as a purpose of trip, declined
slightly to 67.6% share of all purposes; this is still at the highest
of all purpose of trip percentages since OTTI started the survey in
1983. Business and convention travel declined slightly, as percentages
of share, as did visiting friends and relatives. Student travel
and ‘other' travel increased by one percentage point.
- Business
travel's share dropped slightly in 2011,
to 19.8 percent. The share of business travel has declined for four
straight years and was down from a high of 30.2 percent in 2000.
- ‘Conventional' tour
package travel share dropped almost one percentage point to
16.1 percent. Its share has decreased in five of the last six years.
This infers that visitors are traveling more independently and/or are
constructing their own ‘packages' virtually.
- The average
number of states visited in 2011 remained at 1.6.
However, the percentage of travelers visiting three or more states
increased by 0.5 percentage point offsetting the slight decline in
those visiting only one or two states. Likewise, the average number of destinations
visited remained at 2.0. There was a slight net increase in the number
of travelers visiting more than only one destination.
- The length
of stay in the U.S. averaged 18.1 nights, up 1.1 nights from
2010.
- Regarding the use
of transportation modes while in the United States,
there was a notable increase in the use of inter-city transportation
(airlines, rail and buses). However, there continues to be a declining
trend in the use of automobiles (rental cars, company/private autos).
Public transit (subway/bus) experienced a marked increase during 2011.
- The share of first
time travelers to the United States increased three percentage
points to 28 percent. Among repeat travelers to the U.S., the average
was 1.7 trips in the previous 12 months.
- Women travelers as a percent of the total increased to almost 45
percent in 2011. Their share has increased in 10 of the last 12 years.
- Activity participation showed an uptick for those visiting historical
places, national parks and cultural heritage sites.
OTTI has released 11 world regional profiles and 24 countries
(Colombia,
Ireland, Poland & Sweden were added in 2011). In addition, the five
sector
profiles were also updated for 2011. These profiles provide traveler
characteristics for each market between 2010 and 2011 along with the
destinations visited each year. Changes in the traveler characteristics
and
visitation patters by region, country and sector each year impact the
total
visitation estimates reported by OTTI, and by reviewing these changes,
one may
be able to better explain the changes in visitation at the destination
level.
Also released with this update are:
- International
Visitor Spending in the U.S. report
- Key Facts About
International Travelers to the U.S.
- Overseas Market
Profile
To view these data reports, please go to: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/inbound.general_information.inbound_overview.html
In 2011, OTTI collected 38,423 surveys; up five percent from
the number
collected in 2010.This was also the largest number of responses
collected since
1999. Contributing to the increase was the implementation of
supplemental
survey collections at 12 gateway airports. Collections funded by
destinations
at their respective departure airports account for over seven percent
of the
collections. The database that provides a count of all overseas
travelers was
also enhanced as records from the 36 visa waiver countries are now
captured
electronically, improving data quality.
Destination visitation estimates are publicly released for 21
states and 21
cities. The limited number of estimates for destinations visited is due
to
limitations in sample size and OTTI's statistical policy which requires
a
minimum of 400 survey respondents for a public estimate.
In addition to the aggregate level data available on the web
site, OTTI also
offers detailed and custom reports or data on a subscription basis
using the 35
tables shown in the overseas profile. For information on the research
programs
that were used to generate the market intelligence issued, see the
publications
section and custom reports section in the Research Programs area of the
Survey
of International Air Travelers, at: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/ifs/index.html.
If you have any questions or need any additional information concerning
the
visitation estimates, please contact OTTI on 202-482-0140.
The Office of Travel and Tourism
Industries (OTTI) is responsible for
collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and
tourism
statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. For more
monthly
travel and tourism-related trade data dating back to 1992, please
visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/Monthly_Exports_Imports_Balance.xls
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